Sterilizer



Dec. 5, 1933. c. M. HETLAND STBRILI ZER Filed Feb. 27; 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 5, 1933. c. HETLAND STERILIZER Filed Feb. 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mz mzlkzzmla,

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 PATENT OFFICE 1,938,558 STERILIZER Charles M. Hetland, St. Paul, assignor to The Hetland Sterilizer Company, St. Paul,

Minn.

Application February 27, 1931. Serial No. 518,779

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful, improvements in sterilizing devices, and particularl'y to devices for sterilizing milk and cream cans, or other like receptacles.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which an efiective discharge of moist steam may be delivered into the interior of a can, so as to thoroughly cleanse such interior.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which will receive and deliver the removed contents of a can, to another receptacle placed nearby, so that the butter-fat may be recovered.

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein the parts can be easily and effectively cleaned, and wherein efiective control can be had, during its successful operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawingsi Figure 1 is an elevation of a sterilizer made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2. is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fi ure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view, showing the manner of connecting the upper end of the pipe 27 to the top wall of the tank 18, and to the valve 30.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view, showing the construction of the nozzle 32.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents an open-ended outer shell which is supported on the legs 11, and has a large opening 10, in the bottom thereof. Supported in the upper open end of the said shell is a tray 12, for supporting an inverted can to be cleaned. Rising from the center of the bottom Wall of the tray 12, which bottom wall is slightly elevated in the center, is a conical nipple 13, the purpose of which will be explained later herein. In the upper portion of the shell, below the tray, is a horizontal wall 14, dividing the interior of the shell into upper and lower chambers and 16, Leading from one side of the tray 12, and through the wall of the shell, is a downwardly and outwardly inclined pipe 17, by means of which the material cleaned from the interior of a can may be drained from the tray, to be received in a suitable receptacle placed nearby. Supported in the lower chamber 16, in spaced relation to the side and bottom walls of the. shell 10, and with its upper wall in close proximity to the wall 14, is a water tank 18, which has communication with a gauge glass 19, by means of the connections and 21. A drain cock 22 is arranged adjacentthe bottom of the tank, and projects outwardly through the side wall of the shell, opposite to that of the gauge, as clearly seen in the drawings. Mounted on the side of the upper portion of the shell is a small tank 23, having a valved connection 24 with the drain cock 22. Connected to the shell 10, at a point immediately below the wall-14, is a fiue 25, which is adaptedv to lead to any suitable point, for conducting the products of combustion rising betw'een'the shell and tank, from a source of heat beneath theopening 10, which may be of any suitable character. In the side of the shell 10, just below the small tank 23, is an opening 23, through which a portion of the heat is adapted to pass, for the purpose of maintaining said small tank in a heated condition, together with the contents thereof. This tank 23 has a petcock 24. V

Disposed vertically within the tank 18, with its lower end adjacent the bottom of said tank, and provided with perforations 26, is a pipe 2'7. The upper end of the pipe 27 is rolled outwardly the upper end of the said pipe. This casing is externally threaded and has its lower end welded within an opening in the upper wall of the tank 18. In the outwardly rolled portion of the casing 28 are formed the openings 29, to which reference will be made later herein. Disposed within the chamber 15, and screwed on the said threaded casing 28, is the lower end of a valve 30, said valve having communication with the interior nected to the upper end of the said valve casing is a pipe 31, which extends into the nipple 13, where it is provided with a spray nozzle 32, said nozzle being adapted to enter the mouth of an recting a stream of steam against the walls of the interior thereof, for the purpose of loosening and washing out the milk and cream adhering to the can. This matter, after leaving-the and downwardly to provide the casin 28 around of the tank 18 through said openings 29. Coninverted can, placed in the said tray 12, for di- T can, is directed through the drain pipe 1'7 to iii) In the operation of the device, the small tank 23 is partly filled with water, and a quantity thereof permitted to flow, through the valved connection 24, into ihe tank 18. Heat is then applied to the bottom of the tank. When the water in the tank 18 is raised to the point of steam, and pressure is shown to be ten pounds by the gauge on the upper end of the gauge glass 19, in Figure 2, the operator places an inverted can in the tray 12, so that the spray nozzle 32 is within the said can. The operator then opens the valve 30, to a slight degree, to permit steam and hot water to flow from the tank 18, through theopenings 29 and pipe 27, through the valve, and into the can from the spray nozzle 32. The valve 30 is then closed, and the can permitted to drain. If the can is not thoroughly cleansed,. as .willbein-v dicated by the character of the drainings flowing from the drain pipe 1'7, the operation is repeated. Upon opening the valve ,30 to a greater degree,-;more steam and hot water will flow into the, can, through the nozzle 32, with a more cleansing effect on" the interior ofthe can. The water, and material removed from the interior ofthe can thereby, will flow into the tray 12, and

- thence escape through the pipe 17. Opening the valve 30 i0 a greater degree will increase the flow of steam and water, fromthe tank, 18. It will be understood that thesteam and water will pass through the valve 30 and into the can, due to the pressure within the tank 18.

What is claimed is: H

1. A can washing and sterilizing device comprising a steam generator including a water tank andmeans for heating said tank, means for supporting a can thereabove,, a nozzle rising from said supporting means .fordischarging into a can, a water conduit connected with the top of said tank and extending downwardlyinto the water therein for conveying water from said tank,v a perforated casing surrounding and having its side walls spaced from the'upper end of said conduit for conveying steam from said tank, and acontrolling valve connected to said casing and conduit and to said nozzle.

2. A can washing and sterilizing device comprising a steam generator including a water'tank and means for heating said tank, means mounted on the top of the generator for supporting a can thereabove, a nozzle extending upwardly through saidsupport, a casing secured in the top of said tank having its lower end open to receive steam therefrom and its upper end provided with steam escape openings, a conduit having an end secured .within and spaced from the side walls of the casing and its other end within the generator, and a valve, between the support and generator having its ends connected respectively with said nozzle and said casing.

'3. A can washing and sterilizing device comprising a steam generator including a water tank having an opening in the top thereof and means for heating said tank, a can support above said opening, an open-bottomed casing secured within said opening and having its upper end perforated for escape of sieam from said tank, a perforated water conduit having a smaller cross-section than said casing forming a part of said casing and extending downwardly therethrough into the water of said tank, a controlling valve mounted on the upper end of said casing to receive and convey steam and we er from said tank, and 'a nozzle on the upper end of said valve in position to discharge steam and water into the interior of a can on said support.

a. A can washing and sterilizing device com prising a steam generator including a tank and means for heating said tank, a shell connected to said tank and spaced therefrom, a can support above'sa'id tank and carried by said shell, a nozzle rising from said support for discharging into a can, a conduit connected with the top of said tank and extending downwardly therein, a perforated casing surrounding and having its side walls spaced from the upper end of said conduit, for conveying steain'from said tank, and a controlling valve connected to said casing and to said nozzle and having communication with said conduit.

CHARLES M. HE'ILAND. 

